Draft-equalizer.



P. J. ECKHARDT.

DRAFT EQUALIZER.

APPLICATION men JUNE 25. 1915.

Patented 061). 10,1916.

onumm. wAsnmumu. u c.

UNITED STATES PAIIENT mm. 4

PERCY'J'. ECKHARDT, or VIROQUA, Wisconsin.

DRAFT-EQUALIZER.

Application filed June 25, 1915. Serial No. 36,284.

To all-whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, PERCY J. EoKHAnn'r, a. citizen of the United States, residing at Viroqua, in the county of Vernon, State of lVisconsin, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Draft-Equalizers; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to improvements in draft equalizers, and has for an object the provision of means of simple and novel construction for yieldably supporting a whiflietree upon a wagon tongue or the like, whereby the tug straps or chains will be automatically maintained at all times taut, thus permitting the starting of heavier loads with greater ease and with less likelihood of injuring the draft animals or the harness.

A further object of the invention is to provide an inexpensive appliance which may be associated with a vehicle tongue of ordinary construction, and in which any one -of the parts may be readily removed and replaced should it become worn or broken.

With the above and other objects of similar nature in view, the invention consists in the construction, combination and arrangement of parts set forth in and falling within the scope of the appended claim.

In the drawing: Figure 1 is a side elevation of the invention in use. Fig. 2 is a top plan view thereof. Fig. 3 is a longitudinal.

sectional View taken on the line 33 of Fig. 2, and Fig. 4 is a transverse sectional view taken on the line H of Fig. 2.

Referring now more particularly to the drawing, A designates the tongue of a vehicle, and B the bolster thereof, the invention being indicated generally at C.

In detail the appliance comprises a plate 10 which is constructed preferably of a single metallic strip bent into substantially U-shaped form and secured at its ends to the tongue as indicated at 11. This strap is arranged longitudinally of the tongue with its intermediate portion spaced therefrom, and provided with an elongated slot 12, which is continued through the rear leg of the plate and terminates in an enlarge- Specification of Letters Patent.

' Patented 0a. 10, 1916.

ment 13. Disposed above and in spaced relation to the plate 10 is a second plate 14, likewise'formed from a single metallic strip and having its rear end bent as at 15 and secured with the first plate to the tongue. The forward end of the plate let is left free to permit a whifiietree 16 being conveniently positioned within the space between said plate and the plate 10, the whifiietree being arranged to slide freely in a direction longitudinally of the plates as will presently be apparent. The plate 1 1 is further slotted as at 17 similarly to the plate 10, and slidably engaged through said slots is a vertical pin 18, a U-shaped clevis 19 being connected at its extremities to the pin while the bight portion thereof is disposed to slide within the slots and is thus guided in movement longitudinally of the tongue. Pivotally mounted on the pin 18 is the whiflietree 16, and to maintain the latter yieldable with relation to the tongue, and normally at its limit of movement rearwardly of the plates 10 and 14:, there is connected at one end to the bight of the clevis a rod 20 and connected to the other end of the rod a helical spring 21, said spring being secured as at 2 at any suitable point on the bolster B so as to exert a rearward pull on the whifile tree as is evident. It will be noted that in assembling the various parts, one leg of the clevis is passed through the enlarged portions of the slots to bring its bight within the latter and that the ends thereof are disposed respectively on opposite sides of the plates whereby relative vertical movement of the latter will be prevented. It is of course obvious from the foregoing that when the tugs are attached to the whiflietree, the spring 21 will serve at all times to retain same taut, said spring yielding with the whiffletree so as to relieve a sudden strain upon the draft animals and thus prevent injury thereto or to the harness.

What is claimed is.

In a draft equalizer, the combination with a tongue, of spaced longitudinally slotted plates having corresponding ends directed laterally and secured to the tongue with the slots continued through said lateral portions, a substantially U-shaped clevis having one leg inserted through said lateral slotted portions and its ends embracing the plates With the bight thereof slidable in the slots, In testimony whereof, I aflix my signeda Whifiletree mounted between the plates and ture, in the presence of two Witnesses.

limited in rearward movement by one of said lateral portions, {a pin connecting the PERCY ECKHARDrl' 1- clevis and Whifiletree, and spring means nor- Witnesses:

mally holding the latter at its rearward Tnos. O. MORK, limit of movement. MEHRL O. .TUHUS.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner 01 Iatentg L i i 1 Washington, I). 0. 

